Monday, March 21, 2011

Some of you may remember that I have friends from Tohoku. One of my friend informed me that Miyagi Prefecture, which may have been hit hardest, organized their "alumni meeting" to decide what they can do. Their decision was to create an account so that they can "avoid all administrative costs and every cent would be sent directly to the account the Miyagi Prefecture Government."

If you would be kind to participate in this initiative, please send your donation to:

100 Overlook Terrace Apt#816

New York, NY 10040

Attn: Ryo Abe

* Please make your check payable to “The Japanese American Association of NY, Inc.”

(The Japanese Association of NY, Inc. is a tax exempt organization. It is classified under Internal Revenue Codes as 501(c) (3). If you need a receipt for your donation, please indicate upon payment. The receipt will be sent from The Japanese American Association of NY, Inc. after 4/20.)

* If you have any questions or need any other information, please feel free to contact at:

ny-miyagikenjinkai2@hotmail.com

You can view the coverage of the Miyagi Alumni Meeting, along with my friend, courtesy of FCI, Inc. (The video is in Japanese)

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Of course, you can also make donation through the American Red Cross, which will provide relief for other heavily affected Prefectures such as Iwaté and Ibaraki.

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Lastly, my friend Mr. Urbansaké announced that there is a donation program in place designed to specifically aid Japanese Saké Brewers.

On March 11, 2011, unprecedented tragedy struck the Tohoku (Northeast) region of Japan. At a staggering magnitude measuring 9.0 Richter Scale, the "The Great East Japan Earthquake" and tsunami struck with vengeance as never seen before in Japanese history, leaving trail of destruction that is beyond this world.

Imagine a wall of sea so tall that it left boats stranded on top of buildings; a force so strong that it easily displaced houses hundred of yards, if they didn't shatter like pile of match sticks upon impact; a scope of the damage large enough to wipe out entire communities and towns off the map.

Despite the advanced earthquake warning system and years of evacuation drills, over 20,000 people are reported to be missing or dead.

Compounding the matter, the survivors are struggling with winterly weather with minimal or no housing, electricity, food, drinks, and medicine - all the things we assume to be readily available in this day and age.

While they try to survive in as disciplined, orderly, and honorable manner as possible, it is clear that they can't do it alone.

JAPAN NEEDS YOUR HELP.

Whether it's cash or volunteer work (here or abroad), there are no such things as wasted resources when it comes to humanitarian efforts of this magnitude.